We have all heard that the effects of depression include body aches and pains, loss of appetite, and loss of interest in things a person used to enjoy. New studies are finding that depression also has a huge impact on heart health, showing that depression increases your chances of heart disease by an astounding 65 percent!
Because of these staggering percentages, The World Health Organization is forecasting that heart disease will be the most debilitating illness by the year 2010. They state that this is only second to depression. They are asking the medical community to look further into treating both the body and the mind to break this trend. This is also a question being asked by the Cleveland Clinic. They are trying to determine which comes first – depression or heart disease.
Whatever the order or the two diseases, they all agree that the combination is damaging. It has long been known that depression is a huge concern for patients after being diagnosed with heart disease. More than smoking, cholesterol issues, and high blood pressure, Duke University Researchers found that depression is responsible for death due to heart failure in patients who suffer from depression, as much as 50% higher.
At the University of Wisconsin Madison, Kenneth Robbins, M.D., who is a psychiatry professor, has concluded that a person who suffers from depression has a four fold chance of dying after a first heart attack in the six months following. He explains that depression makes people sick in many ways, and sicker if they are already sick, though there is no clear comprehension as to why this happens.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with depression prior to, or after being diagnosed with heart disease, work closely with your doctor to address the depression. There are many therapies available today for treatment. Treating your mind and body together will alleviate your chances of suffering any of the risks discussed.
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